Time controlled switch



March 1941 P. IANNOTTI TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed Aug. 5, 19 39 I N VENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a time controlled switch, and more particularly to an adaptor for mounting such a switch in operable relationship with the alarm winding stem of an ordinary alarm clock.

Before explaining the particular needs which this invention is designed to meet, it is desirable that a few words be said concerning the market for time controlled switches. This market includes that vast number of stores and business establishments that have lights, display signs, and the like which, because of their advertising value, may profitably be kept alight for a limited period of time after business hours.

Where the establishment is of such size that it may employ a watchman or one of the comparatively expensive time controlled switches now on the market, these lights present no problem, for they will be turned off at 11 or 12 oclock when their value as advertising media has become negligible, In the case of the vast number of small shops, however, the $15.00 or $20.00 time controlled switches now on the market constitute too great an investment. In such shops either these lights are turned oil at the close of business hours or the proprietor returns at some late hour in the evening or an inexpensive time controlled switch working oif an alarm clock is utilized.

Also, there is a demand for an inexpensive time controlled switch in the shops which have an expensive time controlled switch for frequently they have special applications within their Windows which are not used after business hours, because these special applications cannot be connected to the expensive time controlled switch which lacks auxiliary sockets. For example, manufacturers frequently supply retailers with portable, inside window neon signs which the retailer may use for a month or two. These signs would be left on after business hours if there was a means for turning them off late in the evening.

This invention constitutes an improvement over alarm clock controlled switches in several respects. The time controlled switches now on the market are really non-commercial developments. In the first place, it is difficult to afilx the switch on the back of the alarm clock either because the arrangement requires special holes in the back of the clock, or because a special base must be furnished. In themselves, these objections do not appear important, but as a practical matter they prevent the adaptation of a switch to an alarm clock owned by the customer at the time of sale. Enlarging upon this, it is essential in the sale of such a specialty that a salesman close the deal on the first call. A salesman cannot make money on an inexpensive item which obliges him to make a sales call to pick up the purchasers alarm clock, then to take the clock to a factory where the time switch is attached, and finally to deliver it. Because of the difilculty of adapting existing time controlled switches to alarm clocks, one must, in order to operate profitably, sell the alarm clock as well as the switch, which brings the price up to five dollars or more, and thereby seriously discourages sales to a lower priced group. This is an undesirable situation particularly because all of the profit may be derived solely from the adaptor The first object of this invention is to provide an adaptor and electrical switch which may be placed in operable relationship with an alarm clock without the use of a special base and without boring holes or making any permanent changes in the alarm clock.

One of the features of this invention is the rovision of a plurality of thin shaped plates having holes, bayonet slots, hooks and the like so positioned that advantage may be taken of winding stems, setting stems, or screw holes positioned in the back of the alarm clocks for effecting a firm connection therewith. By means of such adaptor plates, it is possible to afiix quickly the switch which is the subject of this invention to an alarm clock.

A second object of this invention is to provide an adaptor which may be quickly removed from the switch as well as from the alarm clock. The purpose of this feature of the invention is to enable the salesman to carry a plurality of different kinds of adaptors and but one or two alarm clocks and a few switches. A salesman may make his sales approach by inquiring if the proprietor has an alarm clock. If the proprietor has an alarm clock, the salesman has a great leverage because if it is any standard make, one of the adaptors will work. The salesman attaches the adaptor to the alarm clock and clamps on a switch. By carrying a plurality of adaptors, a few switch boxes, and two or three alarm clocks, the salesman can complete the assembly on the spot at the first call.

A further object of this invention is to provide a stop on the adaptor which will prevent the complete unwinding of the alarm stem during any operable period. The importance of mounting a stop on the adaptor lies in the fact that by removing the adaptor, the clock may be used for its ordinary functions. For example, one of the large markets for this adaptor and switch is believed to be the janitor trade. A large number of janitors are required to turn off hall lights, etc. at some hour of the evening where managements will not supply time clocks for this purpose, vestment themselves. However, most have alarm clocks and have other uses for alarm clocks, so that if the janitor wishes to use his alarm clock to turn off the hall lights in his apartment house at 11 oclock on an evening out, he may hook in the time switch on the clock and have it function without completely unwinding the stem. When he removes the adaptor and switch from the clock, he now removes the blocking or stop member so that the alarm may fully ring in the morning when the clock is used in the bedroom.

A further refinement of this invention lies in the positioning of a toggle switch in reference to the adaptor so that the toggle switch itself will act as a stop to further rotation of the alarm winding stem.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the embodiment shown in the drawing comprising one sheet wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the back of an alarm clock with the switch mounted there- Figure 2 is a side View of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a back view of an adaptor plate;

Figure 4 is a side view of the adaptor plate and of a modified form of the switch box;

Figures 5 and 6 show modified forms of adaptor plates; and

Figure 7 shows an adaptor plate formed on the outside wall of the switch box.

Before describing the features of this invention, certain conventional material shown in thedrawing will be referred to. In Figures 1 and 2, i is an alarm clock, having a back plate l2, a principle winding stem M, an alarm winding stem I6, an alarm setting stem l8 and a hand setting stem 20. The winding stems l4 and i6 carry keys 22 and 24 respectively, while the setting stems l8 and 2!] carry knobs 26 and 28. The clock shown is a conventional alarm clock which has screws 30, 32 and 34, any two of which may be removed temporarily without afiecting the positioning of the plate I2 in reference to the clock. The numeral 36 identifies an alarm control lever which for the purpose of this invention will always be maintained in the open or alarm position. The numeral 38 identifies a switch box which houses a toggle switch 40 having an actuating lever 42 and the necessary inside wiring to eiiect the proper connections between a lead-in line 44 and a plug 46.

What has been described up to this point is conventional structure. The means of assembling in quickly removable relationship the switch box 38 with the back of the alarm clock comprises the first major feature of this invention. This means for effecting the desired connection comprises an adaptor plate 48, the principle portion of which will form the back wall of the switch box and be .joined thereto by means of flanges, which in the particular embodiment shown, are exterior flanges 60, and by a tongue 52 which is adapted to be slipped between the top wall 54 of the switch box 38 and the top of the toggle switch assembly 40 which is held in position by mean-s of screws such as 56 and 58. The adaptor plate 48 may be removed from the switch Janitors are unwilling to make a large inbox by simply loosening the screws 55 and B, and conversely, may be tightened thereto.

Forming an integral part of the adaptor plate is an arm 60. The specific shape of this arm is not important, for as will appear hereinafter, several modifications of the form shown in Figure 3 are disclosed. It is important, however, that this arm have holes, or bayonet slots such as 62, or hooks such as 64, or spacer members such as 66, to effect a joinder of the switch box to the back plate I2 of the alarm clock. The adaptor shown in Figures 1 and 3 requires a loosening of the screw 34 after which the adaptor may be hooked over the stem l8 and slipped into position on the shank of the screw 34. Screw 34 is pulled up and a tight joinder is effected. The setting knob 26 is turned down to the spacer member 66.

In Figure 6 may be seen a modification of the arm of the adaptor. This modification replaces the hook 64 [of the form shown in Figure 3 by a bayonet slots 68 and relies for joinder upon the screws 32 and 34. In Figure 5, the arm is T- shaped and is mounted after unscrewing the hooks 22 and 24 from their stems which are then replaced. While the bayonet slots 68 and 62 are shown in this modification, it has been found that they may be omitted and still obtain a sufficiently tight jloinder between the box and the clock to cause the key 2t to actuate the lever 42.

A fourth form of the adaptor plate may be seen in Figure '7, and differs rather fundamentally from the adaptor plates previously shown in that the upper portion forms an integral part of the switch box 38, being a continuation of the upper wall bent at right angles at the rear. This adaptor relies for its positioning upon the key 24 and the screw 34. It will be noted that the switch box is not removable from the adaptor plate so that while this modification may have much use in applications Where the user needs but one type of switch box, it is of no use where a plurality of different boxes are desired.

The scope of this invention is not believed to lie in the particular embodiments of the adaptor plate which is one of the principal features of this invention. These are many kinds of alarm clocks and many types of adaptor plates which could be developed. The adaptor plates shown in Figures 1 and 3, while particularly designed for a Westclox Big Ben, may be used effectively on other alarm clocks having an equal size.

One portion of the invention is believed to lie in an adaptor plate which may be removably aifixed to the switch box and removably afiiXed to the clock. The exact positioning of the holes, bayonet slots, hooks and the like on the arm of the adaptor plate, and the disclosed means for fastening the adaptor plate to the switch box are deemed to be merely the embodiments of the invention. A wide variety of adaptor plates could be designed.'

Treating now that portion of the invention which prevents the alarm from unwinding completely during any period of actuation, it will be noted in Figure 1 that the wings of the key 24, which will move counter-clockwise during an operating period, will throw the lever arm 42 to the position shown which is completely beyond the track of the wings of the key 24. In order to prevent complete unwinding of the alarm winding stem, there is provided a flange 12 which appears on each modification, although in the modification shown in Figure 6, the flange 72 has been turned on its side.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the toggle switch has been so positioned in the box that the key 24 will be blocked by .the arm 42 after the arm 24 has been moved into the oif position The operation of this time controlled switch is somewhat evident from the drawing. An adaptor plate is affixed to the clock and the switch box ailixed to the adaptor plate. The switch arm 42 which is shown in the off position in Figure 1 is thrown to the left, and the alarm winding key 24 is held in a; diagonal position running from the upper right hand quadrant to the lower right hand quadrant. The alarm setting stem 18 by means of the knob 26 is then set for any desired time. When that time is reached, the key 24 commences a counter-clockwise stroke which engaging the lever arm 42 moves it to the right into the ofi position. In the adaptors shown in Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6, the key 24 will continue rotating until it engages the stop flange 12. In the adaptor shown in Figure 7, however, the off position of the lever arm 42 remains in the path of the wing tip of the key 24, so that the lever arm 42 acts as a stop.

There has now been disclosed an adaptor plate for bringing into operable relationship the alarm winding stem of a clock, and a switch wherein the adaptor plate is readily and quickly removed from either the alarm clock or the switch box. There is additionally disclosed a stop means mounted on the adaptor plate for controlling movement of the alarm winding key. It is believed that equivalents of the plate structure may be readily prepared for utilization on other clocks, and that the utilization of a stopping member mounted on the adaptor plate or of a positioning of the switch lever arm so as to block further actuation of the winding stem after the switch has been thrown, constitute very new and useful features.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A time control switch of the character described comprising, in combination, an alarm clock having an alarm winding stem, an actuatable element on said alarm winding stem, a switch box having an external control capable of being actuated by the actuatable element on the winding stem, and means on said switch box for holding said control in engagement with said actuatable element, said means comprising an adaptor plate having a plurality of slotted portions for engaging a like plurality of protruding elements on the back of the alarm clock whereby vertical positioning of the switch box will dispense with the tightening of locking means on any of said slotted portions.

2. A time controlled switch of the character described comprising, in combination, an alarm clock having an alarm winding stem, a control lever assembly, and means fastened to said control lever assembly for removably holding it in operable relationship to the alarm winding stem, said means comprising an adaptor plate having bayonet slots for engaging screws and settin stems on the back of the alarm clock.

3. A time controlled switch of the character described comprising, in combination, an alarm clock having an alarm winding stem, a wing key on said alarm winding stem, an adaptor plate hooked over a setting stem on the back of the alarm clock and having flanges, a switch box frictionally held by said flanges, and a toggle switch lever fastened to the switch box and extending into the path of the wing key whereby actuation of the alarm winding stem will throw the switch lever to a selected position.

4. A time control switch of the character described comprising, in combination, an alarm clock having an alarm winding stem, a wing key on said alarm winding stem, an adaptor plate hooked over a plurality of stems on the back of the alarm clock and supporting a switch box, and a toggle switch lever disposed in the switch box and extending into the path of the wing key whereby actuation of the alarm winding stem will throw the switch lever to a select position.

5. A switch box for use in conjunction with a wing key on an alarm winding stem of an alarm clock comprising a housing, a toggle switch having a control protruding beyond said housing, and an adaptor plate attached to said housing and having a plurality of slots for engaging a like plurality of stems on the back of an alarm clock whereby the toggle switch control may be held in engageable relationship with the wing key.

PAUL IANNO'III. 

